On Sunday we assisted James Lyall to complete a geophysical survey at a Farm in Kildale to see if there was evidence of a chapel identified in the archive research , carried out by members during last year’s covid lockdown. It was occupied between 1215 and 1314 AD somewhere in the dale.
The resistivity survey revealed a substantial wall on one side of the survey at the very edge ( the thick black line showing a corner , above) which could be the chapel. We are very pleased to have gained permission from the landowner and the farmer to excavate the wall line.
We propose to start excavations on Wednesday 19th May at 10.30am as Covid restrictions are being relaxed on 17th May . Thereafter on Sundays and Wednesdays for at least 6 weeks weather permitting. Please contact me if you would like to take part in this field-archaeology.
As well as the Chapel site we intend to carry out a further excavation this year on our Iron Age-Romano British site , a new Trench (8), which is hoped (based on previous geophysical surveys and excavations) will reveal a roundhouse, field ditches and interesting pottery. Please see last year’s monograph entitled “JUMBO JAR” September 2020, which describes the site and details Romano British agriculture and artifacts found there. ( this is available on our facebook site and was circulated to members)
We have also been asked to continue our work on the Iron Age Round Houses on the moors above Kildale and Lonsdale on Percy Rigg. This had to be postponed last year due to the pandemic. We will be re-excavating roundhouse 1 on behalf of the National Park Authority to provide greater detailed surveys for their archaeological records of this famous site.
I have to apply for DEFRA permissions due to the sensitive nature of the moorland and as part of these we are applying to start on Wednesday 14th July and finish by Wednesday 1st September.
From the above you can see we have a full programme of excavations planned for this year covering the Iron Age, Romano British and Norman Medieval period at least! We hope to interest old and new members after a very strange 15 months.
Other Activities
Sadly the Kildale Show (September) has already been cancelled this year so our efforts at putting up a large tent to share our activities with the wider public have been thwarted again!
WALKS
I have been asked by PLACE (St John’s University ,York) who have very generously funded some of our expenses over the past years, to lead a historical guided walk in Westerdale to look at the Iron Age Hillfort and ancient boulder and Orthostatic walls nearby.
This will take place on Thursday 12th August and be duplicated on Thursday 26th August.
Please come along just let me know so I can give you times and details.
Adventure UK
Hidden Valleys are hosting a postponed field trip for this blind and partially sighted group using our pottery finds and excavation trenches , if you would like to help make this a fun day out and join in please let me know, especially suited for those like me who find getting down into trenches more difficult than before lockdown! We will be doing table top pottery reviews with their group leader Ann Jenner who we know well. Times and dates to be confirmed.
PS just a gentle reminder subs are due £10 per person and £15 per family or couple from those who haven’t contributed yet , our group Insurance is due to be paid in August!
All the best, Roger,
Roger Inman HVCP Chair ,10 May 2021